Zebrafish Prickle1b mediates facial branchiomotor neuron migration via a farnesylation-dependent nuclear activity.

ABSTRACT: The facial branchiomotor neurons (FBMNs) undergo a characteristic tangential migration in the vertebrate hindbrain. We previously used a morpholino knockdown approach to reveal that zebrafish prickle1b (pk1b) is required for this migration. Here we report that FBMN migration is also blocked in a pk1b mutant with a disruption in the consensus farnesylation motif. We confirmed that this lipid modification is required during FBMN migration by disrupting the function of farnesyl biosynthetic enzymes. Furthermore, farnesylation of a tagged Pk1b is required for its nuclear localization. Using a unique rescue approach, we have demonstrated that Pk1b nuclear localization and farnesylation are required during FBMN migration. Our data suggest that Pk1b acts at least partially independently of core p

SUBMITTER: Mapp OM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3082311 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature